Examining the ramp is not expected to change the perception of the course of the accident.
The safety investigation authorities of Estonia and Sweden will start underwater investigations today on the wreck of the Estonian car ferry that sank in 1994. In addition, Estonia’s bow ramp will be raised for further investigations.
This is the completion of the ongoing preliminary assessment work, Accident Investigation Center (Otkes) said in its press release yesterday.
Below the sea level, the researchers obtain samples from the bedrock and examine Estonian car decks. This work is done by unmanned underwater robots.
The work is estimated to last 7-8 days, depending on the weather conditions, after which the research vessel Viking Reach will arrive at the South Port of Paldiski in Estonia.
We want to investigate the damage to the bow ramp
Estonia’s bow visor was raised shortly after the accident, but the bow ramp is still at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. There is damage to the bow ramp that needs to be examined. Examining the ramp is not expected to change the perception of the course of the accident, however.
According to the official accident investigation, the cause of the sinking was the detachment of the bow visor in rough seas and water flooding the ship.
New studies were started the following year
Estonia sank in heavy seas in the Baltic Sea on September 28, 1994. 852 people died in the accident.
The reasons for the sinking of the Estonian came up again in the discussion when in autumn 2020 a TV documentary showed footage of a tear in the side of the wreck that had not been reported before.
In July 2021, an amendment was approved to Estonia’s burial law, which allows research dives to the wreck until the end of 2024. New investigations were started at the shipwreck the following year.
In January, the Swedish and Estonian accident investigation authorities announced their assessment that the Estonia was unseaworthy. The assessment was based on the 1997 final report of the International Commission of Inquiry (JAIC).
The lifting of Estonia’s bow ramp was also discussed on Radio Suomen Päivä on Wednesday.